I installed a new headliner several years ago. I carefully cleaned the fiberglass top and installed it with the provided velcro strips. A black car in the Texas sun gets really hot. The adhesive on the velcro strips always turns loose on a hot day. I replaced the velcro strips with twice as many, each twice as wide and and it still falls down on a hot day. I tried re-gluing the velcro to the roof with headliner adhesive but same thing. What next?

 

had to replace mine several years ago. Talked to a gemtleman who does it for a living. He said due to the extreme hot and cold you need to use the correct glue. Had him do it because of a good price. Not sure what he used but it has been 10 years trouble free. Temps from 100*+ to maybe 0*. Check with a pro for the right glue or let him do it.

 

As long as the headliner is in good shape and the surface it's going on is pretty clean, I'd try a different headliner adhesive and use the whole can on it. It should stay regardless of heat. I can't ever remember any of my customers complaining about anyone having to reglue

 

I'll just add, if you do it yourself make sure you spray both the backer board and the new headliner material with adhesive. 3M headliner and fabric adhesive 38808 worked well for me.

 

with the 3M headliner adhesive. Good stuff!

Applied correctly, it seems to be working w/ no complaints. No, I don't live in TX or FL, etc., but I did have a headliner fall due to: 1) using the wrong adhesive, and 2) improper application of the spray adhesive.

Here's what seems to be working (ever since):

3M headliner adhesive spray - first coat allowed to get tacky, AND THEN spray on a second coat again to both surfaces.

Press the material to the roof before the second coat gets to the semi-dry (tacky) stage. This will not only assure adequate adhesive, but allow some minor adjustment once the surfaces are pressed together.

If the glue gets dry or you used too little the first time(s), spot the dry areas and let them get dry enough to hold - just before reaching that (dryer) "tacky" stage. (Goey...might be the way to describe it?).

And, of course, removing as much of the old glue from the foam on the backboard as possible will make the finished product stick and look better. (You'll have to judge whether the foam backing should be salvaged or replaced. If the foam is still lively, it's good. If it is dry and crumbly and brittle then replacing it might be in order.

Good luck!

OH! Almost forgot! 3M makes several contact spray-on adhesives. I will edit this later to include (or verify the part # listed above), but the label on the can will either say (in effect): "EXCEPT HEADLINERS", or it will say (in effect): "TO BE USED ON HEADLINERS". Be sure to read the label soze ya git the right stuff!

 

I think he is talking about the whole headliner panel attaching to the fiberglass on the inside of the top. Not the headliner fabric on the headliner panel.

There is industrial commercial Velcro available which would have better adhesive compared to the fabric store or big box store versions of Velcro.

You could also try automotive 3M double sided trim adhesive on the Velcro or direct to the panel which I would think should work.

That is my .02

Good luck

 

You're right. Never caught that

 

Get rid of the velcro and glue the backer board directly to the fiberglass. That's the way it was in early model C4's

 

Anythng that needs done needs to be done properly.